this tax statement and personally I have had to-and Joe Williams worked considerably on this-I have had to spend night after night trying to keep up with all the other things that are going on and it is just an impossible task, actually.

I mean you can do it for a certain length of time but every agency has to have its own, if I may use the phrase "thinking machine. There are a lot of problems in this industry. We do not know in the next 10 years what is likely to happen or even in the next 3 years. We have to try to think these problems out.

Just the mere job of keeping up with some of the learned papers on these subjects, in itself is a task. But we ought to be able to do some creative thinking for the Board. We have to go out and make public statements and we are so occupied with Board operations and so on that we really do not have time for ourselves to think things through. Mr. JONAS. Do you have people in

Mr. MCMURRAY. May I just say this, and if I may go off the record for just a second.

Mr. THOMAS. Surely.

(Discussion off the record.)

Mr. THOMAS. Gentlemen, you have been more than gracious to wait here and we are sorry to have delayed you. We thank you for it very much. We think you ought to have some money. We will try to keep you in business.

Mr. MCMURRAY. Thank you, sir.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1961.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE

WITNESSES

CONRAD L. WIRTH, DIRECTOR

BEN H. THOMPSON, CHIEF OF RECREATION RESOURCES PLANNING PARKE W. SOULE, BUDGET OFFICER

Mr. THOMAS. We have a supplemental estimate before us in House Document No. 217 of $2,500,000 for the Cape Cod National Seashore.

GENERAL STATEMENT

Mr. KIRWAN. Mr. Wirth, do you have a general statement?

Mr. WIRTH. I have a statement. I will be glad to file it, if you prefer.

Mr. KIRWAN. Very well.

(The statement follows:)

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DIRECTOR CONRAD L. WIRTH OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, the supplemental estimate of the National Park Service now under consideration represents the fund requirement for the first step in carrying out the authorization of Public Law 87-126, approved August 7, 1961. That act authorizes the establishment of Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts as an area of the national park system. The amount of $2,500,000 requested in the supplemental estimate is to provide for the commencement of the land acquisition program for which appropriations up to $16 million are authorized in the act. In view of the change in status of real property within the boundaries of the newly authorized park area that took place upon enactment of Public Law 87-126, funds should be provided to commence the acquistion program immediately if the trend toward speculation in land values is to be minimized. A delay in the acquisition of real property, particularly with respect to the presently undeveloped sites, will, based on past experience, result in increased costs of the lands. Moreover, it is in the best interest of the Government that the area be established and that its operation as a part of the national park system be commenced with the least possible delay. Prompt implementation of the provisions of Public Law 87126 will be for the good of the American people.

Cape Cod, which is not only the most extensive natural seashore area in New England but also one of the finest on the North Atlantic coast, represents perhaps the last opportunity this Nation will have to save a seashore of national significance north of Cape Hatteras. Almost every attractive seashore on the Atlantic coast area has been, or is being, preempted for private development. Only a fraction of our long seacoast is left for public use and much of this is rapidly vanishing.

However, the area authorized for inclusion in Cape Cod National Seashore, close to the Nation's most densely populated region, is still largely in a natural state. The outstanding natural beauty, scientific interest, and historical significance of this peninsula give it national significance as a park resource, but its park values are being jeopardized by the rapid development of cape land. The evidences of continental glaciation that helped to form Cape Cod and the evidences of erosion and deposition along cape shores provide important opportunities for geological study. The plants and wildlife that mingle on Cape Cod in unusual variety give the area outstanding biological significance.

Cape Cod has been a landmark of history since the days of the Vikings and was a center of America's famed fishing and whaling industry. The Cape Cod house exemplified in the authorized national seashore by some 65 structures built in 1850, is, in itself, a landmark in American domestic architecture. All of these features-geologic, biologic, historic combine to give Cape Cod a scenic beauty which has given the cape communities that unique charm enjoyed for a century by increasing numbers of visitors.

Cape Cod National Seashore will protect outstanding examples of these features from the tide of development engulfing the natural scenes along so much of America's seashore. We urge that you give this request favorable consideration in order that steps may be taken immediately to insure implementation of the provisions of the authorizing legislation.

Mr. KIRWAN. You are requesting $2.5 million; is that correct? Mr. WIRTH. That is correct.

DATE OF AUTHORIZING ACT

Mr. KIRWAN. When was this act passed?

Mr. WIRTH. It became effective and was signed by the President August 7.

Mr. KIRWAN. You must have done some fast work in order to get the supplemental request up here so quickly. The estimate was referred to our committee on August 8.

Mr. WIRTH. It passed both the House and the Senate and went to conference. I had been thinking of this and, when the conferees' report came out, I prepared our supplemental and sent it up to the Department for their consideration. They sent it over to the Bureau of the Budget, and I do not know when it came up to the Hill. But it was prepared, sir, when we felt reasonably sure that the bill would be favorably considered because it passed both the House and Senate.

JUSTIFICATION OF THE ESTIMATE

Mr. KIRWAN. We will insert the justifications in the record at this point.

(The justifications follow:)

Request to remain available until expended, from Aug. 15, 1961_-_.

Employment:

Average number, current appropriation__

Number involved this estimate_

$25, 016, 664 $20,999, 488

$2,500,000

686

9

Actual employment, June 30, 1961‒‒‒‒‒

PURPOSE AND NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS

869

The estimate of $2,500,000 covers fund requirements for the commencement of a land acquisition program at Cape Cod National Seashore, Mass. This area was authorized for establishment by Public Law 87-126, approved August 7, 1961, which also authorizes an appropriation of $16 million for the acquisition of real property. A very substantial savings in funds would be accomplished by an immediate start on this important acquisition program because of the everincreasing rise in land costs. Available land acquisition funds have been programed for high priority and emergency items with a view toward an economical and orderly program. The amount requested could not be absorbed without seriously disrupting the present land acquisition program.

Legislation authorizing establishment of Cape Cod National Seashore, Public Law 87-126, was approved by the President on August 7, 1961. The seashore boundaries will embrace about 26,666 acres of land in the towns of Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham, Orleans, and Chatham, all on the outer arm of Cape Cod. Public Law 87-126 authorizes appropriations of up to $16 million for acquisition of real property to become a part of the seashore area.

Cape Cod, which is not only the most extensive natural seashore area in New England but also one of the finest on the North Atlantic coast, represents perhaps the last opportunity this Nation will have to save a seashore of national significance north of Cape Hatteras. Five years ago the National Park Service made a survey of the Atlantic and gulf coasts. It found that almost every attractive seashore area had been, or was being, preempted for private development; only a fraction of our long seacoast was left for public use, and much of this was rapidly vanishing.

The outer arm of Cape Cod, close to the Nation's most densely populated region, however, is still largely in a natural state. The outstanding natural beauty, scientific interest, and historical significance of this peninsula give it national significance as a park resource, but its park values are being jeopardized by the rapid development of cape lands. The evidences of continental glaciation that helped to form Cape Cod and the evidences of erosion and deposition along cape shores provide important opportunities for geologic study. The plants and wildlife that mingle on Cape Cod in unusual variety give the area outstanding biological significance.

Cape Cod has been a landmark of history since the days of the Vikings and was a center of the famed fishing and whaling industry. The Cape Cod house, exemplified in the authorized national seashore by some 65 structures built before 1850, is, in itself, a landmark in American domestic architecture. All of these features-geologic, biologic, historic-combine to give Cape Cod a scenic beauty which has lent the cape communities that unique charm enjoyed for a century by increasing numbers of visitors.

Cape Cod National Seashore will protect outstanding examples of these features from the tide of development engulfing the natural scenes along so much of America's seashore. Funds should be provided to commence the acquisition program immediately to assure establishment of the area at the earliest possible date and in order to minimize the trend toward speculation in land values. particularly in the undeveloped sites, which would result in increased land costs before acquisition could be completed. Unless prompt action is taken to preserve the lands for the enjoyment of this and future generations, the traditional atmosphere and character will vanish forever. The supplemental appropriation of $2,500,000 requested herein will provide an effective start in the acquisition program during the 1962 fiscal year.

Mr. KIRWAN. The act provides for a seashore area of about 26,670 acres. About 10,000 of these are Federal and State. Is that correct? Mr. WIRTH. Yes, sir. There is between the State and the Federal Government and the towns approximately 10,000 acres.